Chesapeake, VA Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Chesapeake, VA, also called the burn ban, open burning, or fire restriction ordinance, set when you can burn yard waste, debris, or run a recreational fire.
Key Facts
- State Law
- VA Code 10.1-1142 (4 PM Burn Law)
- Season
- Feb 15 - April 30 restrictions
- Hours
- No burning before 4 PM near woodland
- Prohibited Fuel
- Trash, leaves, construction debris
- Penalty
- Class 3 misdemeanor, up to $500
Summary
Chesapeake outdoor burning follows the Virginia 4 PM Burn Law (VA Code 10.1-1142). From Feb 15 to April 30, open burning within 300 feet of woodland is prohibited before 4 PM. Chesapeake Fire may add stricter local bans.
It shall be unlawful for any owner or lessee of land to set fire to, or to procure another to set fire to, any woods, brush, logs, leaves, grass, debris, or other inflammable material upon such land unless he previously has taken all reasonable care and precaution, by having cut and piled the same or carefully cleared around the same, to prevent the spread of such fire to lands other than those owned or leased by him. It shall also be unlawful for any employee of any such owner or lessee of land to set fire to or to procure another to set fire to any woods, brush, logs, leaves, grass, debris, or other inflammable material, upon such land unless he has taken similar precautions to prevent the spread of such fire to any other land. B.
Full Breakdown
Virginia Department of Forestry enforces the iconic 4 PM Burn Law statewide during spring fire season. In Chesapeake, from February 15 to April 30, it is illegal to burn brush or any flammable material before 4 PM when the fire is within 300 feet of woodland, brushland, or fields containing dry grass or flammable material. Fires must be fully extinguished before midnight. Even outside this window, Chesapeake requires burning to be supervised with suppression tools on hand and prohibits burning household trash, leaves, or construction debris. During declared burn bans issued by VDOF or the Chesapeake Fire Marshal during drought, all open burning may be suspended. Air quality advisories from Virginia DEQ can also halt burning. Agricultural burning on working farms has limited exemptions.
Violations & Fines
Violation of 4 PM law is a Class 3 misdemeanor under VA Code 10.1-1142, fine up to $500 plus fire suppression costs if the fire escapes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I burn leaves in November?
What if I violate the 4 PM law and the fire escapes?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chesapeake
How Chesapeake compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·Compare Chesapeake to another location·View the Virginia fire regulations overview
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